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Back in July, coinciding with its 25^th anniversary, Casas Novas Equestrian Center hosted the Longines FEI Jumping European Championships 2025. Eighteen nations lined up full teams, while a total of 90 horse-and-rider combinations were entered to compete in A Coruña, Spain. “To organise a major championship at this fantastic venue has been a dream come true,” event director Alvaro Arrieta tells World of Showjumping.

“This facility was built during 1999 and 2000,” Arrieta explains about the history of the venue, which belongs to the Ortega-family. “The aim of Casas Novas Equestrian Center was to give Galicia and especially the north of Galicia, A Coruña, a high-quality equestrian facility. At the time, the Ortega-family felt that such a place was missing in this area. There is a spirit of legacy about Casas Novas; the Ortega-family wanted to create something beautiful – with the horses as the main focus – that would stand the test of time and help the sport grow.”

“Today, we focus on three areas; we use the equestrian center as a riding school for local children, organise equine therapy and celebrate high-level international and national equestrian championships,” Arrieta tells.

From the beginning, an additional goal was to organise international competitions at the venue – once in the winter and once in the summer. “The Ortega-family wanted to show A Coruña to the rest of the world and make Casas Novas an iconic part of the international competition calendar,” Arrieta explains. “When it comes to shows, we have always tried to do something a little bit special, something different. Casas Novas is a private place, created by the Ortega-family with an elegant and charming atmosphere, reflecting its own style, intimately linked to the world of fashion.”

The first indoor show at Casas Novas took place in December 2000, and since December 2016, the venue has annually hosted a FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier. “When you come to our World Cup-show, it's not a traditional World Cup-event with thousands of people attending as spectators. Casas Novas is different; it is a small, intimate venue with its own personality. It's a mix between top sport, elegance and charm.”

Casas Novas’ uniqueness was also on display during the 2025 Europeans, showcasing what good co-operation between the organisers and the FEI can do. “We were always open to hosting big competitions here,” Arrieta tells about the process that led to organising the 2025 Europeans. “When the New York-leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour was cancelled in in 2023, we stepped in to organise one of the tour’s shows here during summer. It was a win-win situation; we helped the LGCT, while at the same time, realized that the venue truly is good enough for bigger productions.”

“One year later, in 2024, we were in discussions with the FEI and Longines, and we felt that we had a chance to organise the Europeans – so we made a bid,” Arrieta tells.

“While it is a long trip to A Coruña, it's worthwhile,” Arrieta continues. “The stables are permanent, we have six arenas and a race track, the lorry parking is besides the stable and there is a lot of space for the horses. We try to make the experience for grooms, riders, horses, owners and officials very comfortable.”

Combining the minimalistic Casas Novas-style with the branding of an FEI-named event was not simple – but it was doable. “It was a challenge for us to balance the FEI Europeans with our signature style,” Arrieta admits, praising the understanding from the FEI. “Fortunately, the FEI understood that this is a special place and they let us organise the show without losing our personality. For this, I am very thankful.”

“Our priorities have always been the horses and the sport,” Arrieta concludes. “We have wanted to show that is possible to organise shows in great style, with elegance, without losing the main focus on the horses and the sport. I think that it is positive for our sport that the FEI allowed us to do this championship without losing our uniqueness. I believe that all shows should have personality; in tennis, for example, you have unique and iconic venues – and they are fantastic for the legacy and history of the sport. We want Casas Novas to be remembered as a small but beautiful venue, where even the smallest details have been considered.” 

9.9.2025 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.